Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc.

CONTACT:

52 High Street
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 756-5486
www.abbyshouse.org

Tess A. Sneesby, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Abby Kelley Foster House opened its doors in 1976 and has stayed open every night since. Volunteers created it to provide either emergency or long-term shelter for homeless and battered women and their children, because Worcester churches and neighborhood centers were overwhelmed with requests. In an area with a population of 300,000, Abby’s House is the only emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors, sheltering about 300 women and children each year, providing advocacy and a range of supportive services, and educating the community about the issues. AH also provides 78 units of affordable, service-enriched housing for over 100 homeless women and children each year. Their Women’s Center is a drop-in homelessness prevention program for current or former shelter guests or residents, with both educational with social activities. Their Crisis Counseling service responds to victims in person or by phone. Their kitchen serves 6000 nutritious meals annually; their Thrift Shop provides clothing and household items. Their Annette Rafferty Survive to Thrive Fund arranges targeted loans and grants. Over 11,000 women have turned their lives around through Abby’s House—it is the largest provider of affordable, service-enriched housing specifically designed to meet the needs of women and children in Worcester—and this is your opportunity to help.

(2008: HUMAN SERVICES: Girls & Women)